If you’ve been keeping up with the wellness industry, you’ve probably heard the advice to avoid seed and vegetable oils. Why? Well, there are two big reasons here. First, the extraction process for these oils involves chemicals and high temperatures, making them highly processed. One of the most common chemical solvents used to extract these oils is hexane. Hexane exposure has been shown to have negative side effects on our nervous system, and we know our nervous system has a large impact on our gut and hormones. Secondly, seed and vegetable oils have a high concentration of omega-6 fatty acids. While we need omega-6s, we want to have a proper ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Consumption of seed and vegetable oils set us up to have an excess amount of omega-6s, which leads to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is linked to diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, and even anxiety, so it’s important that we work to lower our intake of omega-6s and increase our intake of omega-3s. Check the oils you have in your pantry, but more importantly, check the oils that are used in your nut butters, snacks, condiments, salad dressings, and plant-based milks.
Oils to Use:
- Olive
- Avocado
- Coconut
- Ghee
- MCT
Oils to Avoid:
- Canola
- Soybean
- Corn
- Cottonseed
- Peanut
- Sunflower
- Safflower
- Vegetable
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